Belgian Prison Staff Plan January 26 Strike Over Rising Violence

Belgium (Eurotoday) – Belgian prison staff plan a strike on January 26, 2025, to protest escalating violence and demand government action for safer working conditions.

Due to the rise in violence against prison staff in Belgium, a strike notice has been announced for January 26, 2025, at 10 p.m. This strike will affect all prisons in the country, not just Haren Prison. The decision comes after many recent attacks, including burning prison guards’ cars with Molotov cocktails and threats made to a staff member at their home. 

The workers’ union is asking the Belgian government to take immediate action. They want the Minister of Justice and other important ministers to collaborate on a plan. This plan should ensure that prison staff can work in safe conditions and feel secure both at work and at home, where they are facing more threats and attacks.

How will Belgium address rising violence against prison staff?

According to authorities, the planned strike is a reaction to worries about the safety of correctional officers. Their jobs are getting more dangerous because of rising aggression. Recent attacks highlight the need for better protection. The union thinks that without a quick response from the authorities, prison staff will stay at risk.

The strike aims to send a message to the government. It demands that the safety of prison workers be a top priority. As the strike approaches, it is clear that prison staff will not accept ongoing threats. They want a strong commitment from the government to protect them in their work and personal lives.

On the night of January 14 to 15, 2025, an incident took place outside the home of a worker from the Haren Penitentiary Institution in Brussels. A Molotov cocktail was thrown at the front door, causing a lot of fear and concern. This worker has faced threats before because of their job, with similar incidents happening in 2024.  This recent attack is part of a larger pattern of intimidation against prison staff in Belgium.

The situation at Haren Prison is serious. It is one of the largest and newest prisons in Belgium. On January 2, 2025, a person threw a Molotov cocktail at a prison guard’s car. The car caught fire in the parking lot. The flames also damaged two other cars, but no one was injured. Many people are talking about the need for better security and protection for these workers. There is a need to make sure they are safe in their jobs.

In January 2025, there were many worrying arson attacks on prison staff in Belgium. The Molotov cocktail at a prison guard’s car at Haren Prison was the first attack of several violent acts. The union for prison workers strongly condemned these threats. They pointed out that this was the third case of arson in just one month. The situation shows a dangerous rise in violence. These attacks seem to be aimed at scaring and threatening prison employees.

The union for prison workers is calling for quick action. They say it is “high time” to stop the attacks on staff. They mentioned that these recent attacks show that security needs to be better. Prison workers in Belgium need more protection from harm. They need to blank”>feel safe as the hostility against them increases.


Comments

2 responses to “Belgian Prison Staff Plan January 26 Strike Over Rising Violence”

  1. white swan Avatar
    white swan

    Just what we needed—prison staff organizing a strike to demand a bit of safety while juggling Molotov cocktails like it’s a casual Tuesday. Maybe the government should consider offering a “how to dodge flaming projectiles” workshop instead! 😂🔥

  2. Fiend Oblivion Avatar
    Fiend Oblivion

    Oh joy, a prison staff strike! Because nothing says “let’s fix the problem” like a good old-fashioned walkout. 🍷 Maybe they can negotiate with the arsonists over a nice Belgian beer? 😏

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Last News

Germany’s gas gamble puts Europe’s winter at risk

Germany’s gas gamble puts Europe’s winter at risk

The low reserves have further increased pressure on gas prices connected to rising tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, with the European natural gas benchmark consistently higher now than during the first four months of the Iran conflict.
The European Commission, the EU’s executive body, stated there are no winter supply risks for the bloc. However, a report from energy analytics firm Rapi

Read More

The Ayoub Aïssiou Case: Caught Between Extradition and Allegations of Political Persecution

The Ayoub Aïssiou Case: Caught Between Extradition and Allegations of Political Persecution

PRESS RELEASE
Spain Will Not Sacrifice Its Dignity for a Few Barrels of Oil
Since July 25, 2026, Ayoub Aïssiou has been held in a detention center in Barcelona, awaiting extradition to Algeria. He has committed no crime; rather, he is a political target of the Algerian regime due to his media activism and support for the democratic opposition.
A Peaceful Dissident, Victim of a Political Vendetta

Read More

EU Expands Russia Sanctions List by Adding 5 Individuals Following Ukraine Attacks

EU Expands Russia Sanctions List by Adding 5 Individuals Following Ukraine Attacks

The European Union has expanded its Russia sanctions by including five more individuals. This action is in response to Moscow’s “intensified strikes deliberately targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure” in Ukraine, as mentioned in a press release.
Although the press release does not specify any particular attack, Russia launched one of its deadliest assaults on the Ukrainian capital earl

Read More

Iceland Centers Fisheries in EU Referendum

Iceland Centers Fisheries in EU Referendum

With an August vote approaching, Reykjavík emphasizes that any renewed accession talks must maintain national control over its marine resources.
Iceland’s debate over closer EU ties is focused on who controls the fish. Ahead of a referendum on August 29, the government insists that any future membership agreement must protect the country’s fisheries authority. The vote will decide whether n

Read More

Italy Declares Independence from Spain’s Border Check Directives

Italy Declares Independence from Spain’s Border Check Directives

Earlier in the day, the Spanish government warned of taking “proportional measures” if Rome did not cease its reintroduced border checks and temporarily suspended the Schengen Agreement by August 9.
In its announcement, Rome stated it would maintain these controls “at least until August 15 and, in any case, until security and terrorism risks to Italy can be completely ruled out,&

Read More

After years of sanctions: Russia launched the MS-21 – the plane intended to replace Boeing and Airbus

After years of sanctions: Russia launched the MS-21 – the plane intended to replace Boeing and Airbus

/CROSS/ The MS-21, Russia’s latest passenger plane, has completed its maiden flight. This marks the first flight of a fully import-substituted serial aircraft, in the configuration that airlines will eventually receive. The delivery deadline is now set for 2027. Despite hurdles, Russia has developed an aircraft that is expected to serve for the next 30-40 years.
The MS-21’s first ful

Read More

Madrid Warns of Retaliation if Italy Maintains Border Controls on Spanish Travelers

Madrid Warns of Retaliation if Italy Maintains Border Controls on Spanish Travelers

Madrid criticized Rome for introducing border controls that disrupted thousands of passengers during the summer holiday season, accusing it of creating legal uncertainty. Spain also condemned Italy for criticizing its migrant policy while neglecting its own border security.
Despite Italy being the EU country with the highest number of irregular crossings in recent years—sometimes double Spain&#821

Read More

78 Arrests in Crackdown on Major Western Mediterranean Smuggling Network in Spain

78 Arrests in Crackdown on Major Western Mediterranean Smuggling Network in Spain

Loading application.Please wait.

Related coverage: SOLACE: Improving lung cancer screening in Europe | Iceland Puts Fisheries at Heart of EU Referendum | EBA, EIOPA and ESMA call for enhanced governance and consistent supervision to mitigate ICT risks from frontier AI models in the EU financial sector

Read More

L’Europe souhaite se libérer de sa dépendance à Palantir

L’Europe souhaite se libérer de sa dépendance à Palantir

Europe aims to reduce its reliance on Palantir, the American data processing company deeply integrated into sensitive European operations such as law enforcement, intelligence, and healthcare. Finding alternatives will prove challenging.

Read More

EU Rights Groups Alarmed by Freedom of Religion and Expression in South Korea

EU Rights Groups Alarmed by Freedom of Religion and Expression in South Korea

Press Release Following Conference at Seoul Foreign Correspondents’ Club
HRWF (07.08.2026) — Human Rights Without Frontiers (HRWF), in collaboration with CAP Liberté de Conscience (CAP LC), ECOSOC-accredited at the UN, FOREF, CESNUR, and Bitter Winter, conducted a press conference at the Seoul Foreign Correspondents’ Club addressing “Freedom of Religion or Belief and Freedom of Expression in Sout

Read More